Diagnostic instrument



Nov. 9, 1937. GAGNON 2,098,702

DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 14, I934 INVENTOR b01115 bfia qnon.

ATTOR Patented Nov. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT Louis L.Gagnon, Southbridge, Mass., assignor to American Optical Company,Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts ApplicationSeptember 14, 1934, Serial No. 744,029

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in diagnostic instruments and hasparticular reference to aninstrument of the illuminated type for use inmaking examinations of the aural cavities of the body and the like.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improvedform of illuminated instrument for use in making examinations and aidingin treating diseases of the aural cavities of. the body and the likewherein the light from the source of illumination will not in any wayreach the eye and restrict or interfere with the vision of the examineror person using the instrument.

Another object is to provide an instrument of the above character havingilluminating means and observing means which will permit the relativelyfree and easy introduction and manipulation of operating instrumentsinto the speculum of the instrument.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, and it will be understood that 25 many changes may be made inthe details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and describedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in theaccompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited 30 to theexact arrangement of parts and details of construction shown anddescribed as the preferred form only has been shown by way ofillustration.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. I is a fragmentary side elevation of the instrument embodying theinvention and showing portions thereof in cross section; and

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the head of the instrument shown in Fig.I.

Some attempts have been made, in the past, to produce a diagnosticinstrument wherein the illuminating and observing means would notinterfere with the use of operating instruments, but such diagnosticinstruments, in most instances, were so constructed that the light rayscoming from their source of illumination traversed the line of sightthrough the observing means prior to being deflected into the speculumof the instrument. This produced an annoying glare which greatlyhindered and restricted the vision of the examiner or person using theinstrument.

It, therefore, is one of the primary objects of this invention toovercome the glare obstruction or annoyance of prior art instruments ofthis character by deflecting the light rays coming from the source ofillumination towards the speculum prior to their traversing the line ofsight through the observing means of the instrument.

Referring more particularly to the drawing Where like characters ofreference designate like parts throughout the several views, the deviceembodying the invention comprises a base I hav- 7 ing a detachableconnection 2 adjacent one end thereof for attachment to a handle 3 andhaving a support or bracket 4 adjacent its opposite end. The support orbracket 4 is provided adjacent one of its ends with a ring 5 in which aspeculum 6 is detachably secured by friction or other suitable attachingmeans to permit the use of different size speculums. The opposite end ofthe support or bracket 4 is attached to the base I by a screw or othersuitable means 1 and has a portion surrounding a housing or casing 8 inwhich a source of illumination 9 is supported. The housing or casing Bis anchored in the base I and is provided with a detachable cap memberto having a sight opening ll therein, the axis of which extendssubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing or casing 8in substantial axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of thespeculum 6. A suitable magnifying lens or lens 12 having theprescriptive power required for the correction of the eye of. theexaminer may be mounted in the sight opening ll of the cap member ID. I

The housing or casing 8 is provided, intermediate the source ofillumination 9 and the sight opening ll, with light deflecting orreflecting means. l3 such as a prism, angled mirror or other suitablemeans whichis adapted to intercept the light rays coming from the sourceof illumination 9 and deflect or reflect the said rays in the directionof the longitudinal axis of the speculum 6. This arrangement bends therays prior to their traversing the longitudinal axis of the sightopening I! and thereby prevents the said rays entering the eye of theexaminer. The light deflecting or reflecting member I3 is provided withan opaque hood l4, formed by a coating of paint, metal or other suitablemeans adapted to aid in preventing glare from the source of illumination9 reaching the eye and interfering with the vision of the examiner. Asuitable focusing lens I5 is supported by adjustable telescoping meansIS in line with the light rays coming from the source of illumination 9to provide means for varying the focus of said light rays as desired.

Current for the source of illumination 9 is supplied by a suitablebattery, not shown, carried in the handle 3 and controlled by a switchof a rheostat type I! by means of which the illuminating means maybeturned on or. off or regulated as to its intensity. The switch I! is ofthe prior art type commonly used in instruments of this nature. V V

The battery or other source of current supply is connected withthesourceof. illumination by conducting means [8. a 7

The attaching means 2 is of, the. commonly known bayonet-typecomprisingangled slots l9 formed on one of the members! and 3 andadapted to receive projections formed on the other of said members. Acollar 2| is placed over the V slotted portions. Hi to provide means forpreventing the ends 22 of said portions from beingdeflected or bent outof position during use. This also is one of the features of applicantsin vention.

Attention is directed to the fact that the support or bracket member 4provides means for holding the speculum 6 in proper alignment and.

spaced relation with the light deflecting means I3 and sight. opening Hto provide a relatively direct line of sight andclearance for theinsertion and manipulation of operating instruments in the speculum.Attention is also directed to the fact that the casing or housing 8 is.of such a size as to produce very little interference with.

the use; of operating instruments From the foregoing description it willbe seen that simple, eflicient and economical means is 7 provided forobtaining illumination in aninstrument of this character which will'notblur or any Way interferewith the vision of the observer or examiner.

Having described my invention 1 claim:

. 1. In a device of the character described, a base having'a handleconnection adjacent one end thereof and a bracket adjacent its other endextending outwardly at an angle relative'to the longitudinal axis ofthe'base, said bracket having a speculum supporting portion adjacent oneend thereof adapted to detachably receive a speculum and having arelatively slender upright casing adjacent its opposite end and inspaced relation with the speculum support, said casing having a rectionof the longitudinal axis of a speculum carried by the speculum support,a detachable cap member fitted over the light deflecting means andhaving a sight opening extending transversely of the longitudinal axisof thecasing with the axis of said sight opening substantially cor axialwith the longitudinal axis of, a speculum carried by the speculumsupport said light dew. fleeting means being positioned between thesource'of light and the sight opening and the said cap likemember'having an outside dimension'substantially equal to the diameterof the casing, the size of saidHcap-Iike member .and the ;*spacedrelation of the casing and speculum support permitting free and easyintroduction and manipulation of operating instruments into the speculumof the instrument.

i .2; In a device of the character described,'a baser .having a handleconnection adjacent one end'thereof and a bracket adjacent its other endextending outwardly at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of thebase, said bracket having a speculum supporting portion disposedat anangle to said bracket and at an angle to the.

longitudinal axis of the base adjacent one end of said bracket adaptedto detachably receive a speculum'and having a casing adjacent its0pposite end separate of andin spaced relation with the speculumsupport, said casing having a light chamber, internally thereof andhaving a restricted light passageway leading from said light chamber, asource of light in said chamber in.

alignment with the light passageway, a light defleeting member supportedin alignment with the light passageway and with the light sourceadapted.to receive the light rays coming through said passageway and deflectsaid light rays in'the direction of the longitudinal axis. of a speculumcarriedby the speculumsuppo-rt, a cap member 7 above and overlying thelightdeflecting means and having a sight opening extending transverselyof the longitudinal axis of the casing with the axis or said sightopening substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of a speculumcarried by the speculum support, said light defiecting means beingpositioned between the source of lightandthe sight opening and thesaidcap like member having an outside dimension.

substantially equal to the outside dimension of the portion having therestrictedlight passageway therein, the size of said cap-like member andthe spaced relationof the casing and speculum support permitting freeand easy introduction and manipulation of operating instruments into thespeculum of the instrument.

LOUIS L. GAGQNONZH

